Man, 21, accused of stealing late Tony Rahn's lobster traps

PORTSMOUTH — A Bedford man faces multiple charges alleging the possession of stolen lobster gear, including some items that belonged to the late Tony Rahn.

Comment

By Joey Cresta

seacoastonline.com

By Joey Cresta

Posted Nov. 21, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By Joey Cresta
Posted Nov. 21, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

PORTSMOUTH — A Bedford man faces multiple charges alleging the possession of stolen lobster gear, including some items that belonged to the late Tony Rahn.

N.H. Fish and Game announced on Wednesday the Nov. 11 arrest of Kyle Basoukas, 21, following a three-month investigation by the agency's law enforcement division. The charges are a Class A felony of receiving stolen property, molesting lobster gear and taking lobsters without lobster trap tags, as well as 130 other violations, according to Fish and Game.

The additional violations include alleged use of illegal escape panels, having only one buoy on trawls containing five or more traps and having no weak links, which is a required gear adaptation that prevents whale entanglement, Fish and Game said.

Through the investigation and execution of a search warrant, Fish and Game conservation officers seized 81 lobster traps, 49 of which were allegedly stolen. According to Fish and Game, some of the traps had been the property of Rahn, the Portsmouth lobsterman who died in an accident in the Piscataqua River in July.

Rahn, 69, died while diving in the river near his lobster boat in Portsmouth Harbor. He was a retired physical education teacher of 28 years at Dondero School and most recently at Newington Public School. He was also an active member of the community, taking part in the development of the Portsmouth Girls Softball Association and the Portsmouth elementary basketball league, and he was a lifetime member of the Elks Club.

Authorities said Basoukas is a licensed part-time commercial lobsterman who was operating between Odiorne Point State Park in Rye and the area south of Rye Harbor. According to Fish and Game, officials became aware he allegedly possessed stolen gear during routine contacts in August.

Lt. Michael Eastman, who leads coastal law enforcement for Fish and Game, said the investigation was time consuming because investigators had to track down the owners of the 49 stolen traps.

"An enormous amount of time and effort went into this investigation," he said. "This case shows the importance of proper marking of gear through name tags and lobster tags, information that can help Fish and Game protect the resource that represents the livelihood of the lobstermen of New Hampshire."

Basoukas is due to appear in Portsmouth Circuit Court on Jan. 13 for arraignment.